'Embarrassed' ladies sorry for pirate mix-up

Women's Institute members misunderstood a visiting speaker's talk about pirates

POSTED: 11:07 AM May 03 2013UPDATED: 10:57 AM May 03 2013

Members of a women's group in England were embarrassed by the fact that they misunderstood the idea behind a visiting speaker's talk about pirates.

The ladies of the Parkham Women's Institute were so excited about the guest speaker that they decided to dress in pirate costumes, complete with eye patches and a toy parrot. However, Captain Colin Darch was visiting the Institute to discuss his time as a hostage when Somali pirates kidnapped him in the Indian Ocean in 2008. He was visiting the institute to promote his book and discuss his experiences with the pirates.

The North Devon Journal reports that the 75-year-old retired sea captain said he was very confused when he first arrived and he could tell the ladies were also confused, after he began speaking about his personal ordeal and not pirates in general.

Despite the confusion, Darch got along with the ladies and had no ill feelings about the event. He even ended up judging a pirate costume contest.